Art Halvorson is consolidating votes on Democratic ballots in hopes of making another run at U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Everett, in November.

“This thing is not over yet,” Halvorson said. “If we’re able to follow this process through, we have a very high probability of being on the November ballot.”

A minimum of 1,000 votes is required for a winning write-in candidate’s name to appear on the November ballot. Richard Latker, deputy campaign manager for Halvorson, said campaign officials believe that requirement has been met, although a judge must still approve write-in votes - including those by voters who misspelled Halvorson's name or left off the first or last name.

"My job is to make sure everyone's vote counts," Latker said. "The benchmark (for a vote to be counted) is voter intent."

Shuster, chairman of the House transportation committee, won the Republican nomination by 1,000 votes in the April 26 Primary election.

Bill Shuster, R-Everett, is the representative for the Ninth Congressional District of Pennsylvania.(Photo: Submitted)

Shuster, seeking his eight full term, spent more than 10 times as much for his re-election than Halvorson spent on his grassroots campaign.

Halvorson, a retired Coast Guard Captain and commercial real estate investor, said his campaign will consolidate write-in votes under a single name in Franklin, Blair and Indiana counties. The campaign calculates that Halvorson will net 1,070 votes, more than either the Democratic write-in candidate (about 900 votes for Adam Sedlock) or Shuster (about 500 votes.)

“It’s phenomenal,” Halvorson said. “It developed out of the blue. We focused on winning the Republican nomination outright. ”

Halvorson had positioned himself as more conservative than Shuster. He blasted the incumbent for being involved personally with a lobbyist who lobbied his committee.

Halvorson, a Republican, would appear as the Democrats’ nomination.

“It’s a calculation that I have come to grips with,” he said. “I’m going to figure out how to make it work.”

"It’s not really surprising to see Art Halvorson reject and ignore the will of the voters. He’s proven that he will do and say anything to get elected," Centres said in an email. "While Art Halvorson challenges the courts to allow him to join the Hillary Clinton ticket, Congressman Shuster will be working hard to elect Donald Trump, whom Art Halvorson has called reprehensible, childish, and embarrassing, to the White House."

Shuster escaped the Republican primary with 48,687 votes to Halvorson’s 47,678. Halvorson won Franklin, Blair and Bedford counties while Shuster won big in Fayette and counties in the western part of the district.

Halvorson said he might have to drive to Indiana County to meet a deadline on Friday.